I wonder if Lenny Kravitz knows that he is part of a disappearing breed.
He is amongst a small number of rock stars in the pure sense: charismatic and talented and revelatory. He knows you like him and he loves it. That fan adoration fuels the music he makes and the performances he gives, making for a spirited live concert experience that feels like a relic of the past.
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There are no superfluous back flips or one-piece glittery bodysuits or flashy theatrics. No, Kravitz is an artist who builds from the essence of his music, true rock ‘n’ roll, creating a live show that doesn’t push boundaries but rouses the audience and satisfies our yearning for a real rock star.
Those skills were on full display during Kravitz’s packed two-hour show at Ravinia Festival in Highland Park. Sporting loose bell-bottomed jeans and a blue leather jacket, Kravitz wowed the largely Gen X audience with a mix of his greatest hits (and there are many of them) and tracks off his 2024 album, “Blue Electric Light.”
Kravitz opened the show with “Bring it On,” a raucous, propulsive throwback track to set the scene. This was not going to be your standard Ravinia Festival show. A blistering light show, almost dizzying at times, was a perfect fit for Kravitz as he later blasted through “Dig In” and “TK421.” The latter, the second track from “Blue Electric Light,” might not have been as well known as Kravitz’s hits, but its more funk-driven sound blended perfectly into his past tunes. During that performance, Kravitz took a break from just standing behind the mic with his guitar, instead moving freely across the stage, in all of his effortless glory, as he sang and danced. At times, I was reminded of Prince, another rock star in the pure sense, who thrilled as much as he grounded himself in the security of his trusted instruments.
Other tracks from Blue Electric Light, like “Honey,” “Paralyzed,” and “Low” were actually really, really good. There’s often a perception that a musician’s later work holds less intrinsic value than the hits that made them household names. But Kravitz bucks this notion, proving that his adept songwriting skills translate even four decades later. “Paralyzed” was a true delight, leaning into Kravitz’s underutilized psych rock elements with grinding guitar riffs permeating nearly every second of the tune. His performance during this track likely made for one of the loudest shows Ravinia has ever seen.
For “Low,” Kravitz ditched the jacket to reveal a loose, chain-metal halter top and a perfect collection of tattoos across his arms and chest. It was an exciting moment for most of the audience, whom Kravitz loved to tease and connect with between songs. Kravitz often played to the sides, getting right up to the edge of the stage and riffing with his guitar, with mind-shattering notes blaring in their faces and Kravitz’s crotch at eye level. The audience couldn’t get enough.
“I love you all because I love life, I love God, I love human beings,” Kravitz said at one point. This garnered extended cheers and clapping from the crowd, who were later rewarded with a latter third of the set focused entirely on Kravitz’s best bangers. A clear professional, Kravitz moved fluidly between guitars and bass depending on the song or even just the verses and bridges of a song.
“It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over,” a song that’s 34 years old and unquestionably timeless, sounded as fresh as it did when it was first released. An impromptu sing-a-long accompanied this one, as the entire pavilion (and perhaps the folks on the lawn) knew all of the words. “Again” rumbled gently after, while Kravitz’s era-defining cover of “American Woman,” got even the last seated stragglers up on their feet.
But it was his performance of “Fly Away,” perhaps his biggest hit, that proved Kravitz is one of the best to do it. Sassy, seamless and sexy, the track set the room ablaze, in a good way. They just don’t get as good as this track, this artist. And everyone in the room knew it. “Let’s raise the vibration this evening. Let’s amplify love. And let’s create our own reality, right here,” Kravitz said at one point during the evening. Mission accomplished.
Britt Julious is a freelance critic.